Tra La! It's May!

Tra la, it's May, the lusty Month of May

That lovely month when everyone goes blissfully astray.

Tra la, it's here, that shocking time of year

When tons of wicked little thoughts merrily appear!

(Lyrics from Lerner and Loewe's Camelot)

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Where I live, the arrival of May means summer is here.
Six months of summer and six months of not summer.
Although the "not" summer seems to be getting shorter.

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Did you know the month of May is named for the Roman goddess Maia,
who oversaw the growth of plants?
Also from the Latin word maiores, "elders," who were celebrated during this month.

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Amaryllis is blooming in Musashi's garden.

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My 50th high school reunion is this year.
THUD!

Here I am --

If I remember correctly, the senior pix were taken the end of the junior year.
Thus the short hair (look at all that teased hair).
Yes, I have my eyes closed  -- the sun is bright in New Mexico.

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It's no secret that I enjoy shopping (especially window shopping) at Sur La Table.
This is what I found in their latest email.

Too cute!


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I decided I needed to clean out my yarn closet.

I would open the door and wonder what would fall out next!

My habit when I'm working on a project,

knit, crochet, counted cross stitch -- whatever --

is to put all the supplies in a tote bag with the project.

A girl can never have too many tote bags.

So in goes the pattern, yarn, needles, hooks -- everything to get the project done.

And when I finish, I tend to leave everything in the tote bag.

So, cleaning out the yarn closet meant I went through all the tote bags to see what was there ... mostly patterns and hooks/needles.

One of the totes had two balls of a washable acrylic, nylon yarn in a wonderful teal with dark  blue specks, a circular needle and several scarf patterns.
I like to use a circular needle on small projects.

 One of my all time favorite stash busting patterns from Knit Picks was included.

I must have decided to try to get a scarf from the two small balls of yarn.

Well, it worked!

Here's the finished product.

I cut the pattern (Diagonal Garter Stitch Scarf) from the Knit Picks catalog 
(back when they sent catalogs by mail).

It's very simple -- Cast on 22 stitches (or your choice).

RS: Knit into front and back of first st, knit across to last 2 sts, K2tog.

WS: Knit

Repeat these two rows until scarf is desired length and bind off loosely.

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Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Five On Friday

Willy Nilly Friday

Mosaic Monday

Monday Social

Craft On

The best cure for boredom is crayons!

From the Fortune Cookie Journal
"The Best Cure for Boredom is Crayons"

Today is National Crayon day!
Crayola has announced that one of their colors is going to be retired!

In the spirit of crayons and art ---
Liberate Your Art 2017 is underway.
I received my first postcard last week --
all the way from Ireland -- Connemara Cottage, an acrylic painting.
The artist is Jacinta Moore.
You can find more of her artwork and photos here.

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It's been busy around here.

Spring cleaning outside.

The last of the freeze damaged plants are gone.

I found some very old flower and veggie seeds 

that I've "thrown" out into the bare garden spots.

If they come up -- great -- if not -- that's okay, too.

The pond/water garden has been cleaned.

All the water out, the fish out, the plants out.

Power wash and then everything back in.

Two pretty, new water lilies.
One pink and one purple.

Some fun floating grass for the fish to play in.
Now I'm waiting for the fish to spawn.

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The balcony is ready for spring and Easter.
The Gerbera Daisy and geranium are blooming.

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A  very handsome visitor stopped by.

At least once a year there is a hawk in the backyard.
They know I feed the birds in the morning.
No critters were harmed during his visit.

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I've been busy weaving in the ends on the Cottage Charm lapghan
and trying to decide what I might like to tackle next.
I have yarn for more shawls.
Never too early to make Christmas/Birthday presents.
Be prepared!

These are also calling:

I enjoyed the Cottage Charm lapghan.
I found another pattern with similar flowers.
Or
Some cute potholders.
Both projects should be good stash busters!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Five On Friday

Willy Nilly Friday

Mosaic Monday

Monday Social

Craft On

Celebrating the Green!

St. Patrick's Day is today.

This year I started celebrating a little early with a 

Green Tea Frappuccino from Starbucks.

Matcha and Green heaven! Ha!

And, if it is too cold for a Frappuccino,
perhaps some hot tea will do the trick.
Always nice to get out the Belleek for St. Patrick's Day.

Corned beef and cabbage are usually on the menu.
This year I'm changing things up a bit and plan on having
Pasta, Peas, Asparagus, Spinach and Pesto!
Adapted from a friends recipe that you can find here.

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Daffodils have arrived at Trader Joe's and I'm in heaven!

Spring is definitely arriving around Twisty Lane.

In almost every room.
The daffodil is such a happy flower!

“Daffodils are an optimistic flower, and foolproof. 
You know what Shakespeare said: 
"Daffodils,
That come before the swallow dares, and take
The winds of March with beauty."

...I plant them in big clumps with a trusty shovel. 
I make several large holes all around and put quite a few in. 
That's why it makes such a spectacular look when they bloom.” 
― Tasha Tudor, The Private World of Tasha Tudor

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I finished the Cottage Charm Afghan.

Yes, I ran out of blue and had to get more.

The color is a close match, but the texture is a little different.

I always make the first of a project for myself.

The difference in texture won't bother me! 

I think my favorite part of the afghan is the little white bow!

It's going to work well as a lap-ghan for me.

Most importantly -- It has Mr. Oliver's approval!

The blue matches his eyes...... 

I'm reading the last of the Amish mysteries - A Churn for the Worse.
I'll be sad to finish. I really like the characters and the setting.
I hope there are more to come in the series.


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May your joys be 
as deep as the oceans

Your troubles 
as light as its foam

And may you find
sweet peace of mind

Wherever you
may roam.


Wishing YOU well and much joy on this St. Patrick's Day.


Five on Friday
(Thank you Amy for hosting!)

Willy Nilly Friday

Monday Social

Mosaic Monday

Make It Pretty Monday

Keep Calm Craft On